The Effect of Lighting Conditions on Personal Space Requirements

Abstract

Abstract The personal space requirements of 28 American female college students were measured under both bright and dark conditions by a female experimenter using the stop-distance technique. Interpersonal closeness was found to cause significantly less discomfort under high illumination than it did in relative darkness. There was also a significant effect of angle of approach; distance requirements increased as the direction of the approach progressed from front to rear. These findings demonstrate that a reduction in lighting and a decrease in room size have similar effects on interpersonal space requirements.